Category Archives: Amish Fiction

After Tragedy claimed her husband’s life and her son’s ability to walk, Hannah King doesn’t want a new man. She has her family, home, and mounting debts. Scarred Amish bachelor Jacob Schrock offers Hannah the job she desperately needs. But while Hannah helps Jacob resolve his accounting issues, can she and her little boy also heal his wounded heart?

Author Vannetta Chapman

Vannetta is a very down to earth, caring person and a sweet friend to all who know her. She never lacks to bring touching stories that will warm the heart, even when sadness or loss is at the heart of a story. You will really enjoy her Full of Grace Fiction. Her sweet and caring character shines through all her wonderful stories.

All her books are stories of light, hope, and truth. Stories that at least for a moment touch the deepest places in our heart.

A Widow’s Hope is a sweet and touching story of a young widow and her handicapped son and also a story about a young man who bears his own scars of his parent’s death. Though these two know each other from their past, they hardly thought they would see each other again. Will pain keep them from finding love? or will all the hurt from the past keep them apart?

I really liked the characters in this story, especially Hannah’s mother who seems to have some wisdom about things and is looking out for what is best for Hannah. Being a mom I can relate to her and her wanting to see her daughter not grieving for too long over the death of her husband. Also for her and her husbands love for Hannah and her son who now live with them.

This story touched my heart as I was/am grieving the loss of two of the most spiritual men in my life. Grief is not always hard to go through and letting go of the past and forging a new future is hard. Doing it with children seems even harder, though they are more resilient and more accepting of new things at times.

I believe anyone who is dealing with loss, grief or who deals with a disability would really grow from reading this story. It is a book for everyone in the family to enjoy! Vannetta as always brings us a heartwarming story for all ages. You won’t be disappointed by this first book in her Amish Brides series.

About the Book

Book: The Newcomer

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Genre: Historical; Amish

Release Date: January 31

In 1737, Anna Konig and her fellow church members stagger off a small wooden ship after ten weeks at sea, eager to start a new life in the vibrant but raw Pennsylvania frontier. On the docks of Port Philadelphia waits bishop Jacob Bauer, founder of the settlement and father to ship carpenter Bairn. It’s a time of new beginnings for the reunited Bauer family, and for Anna and Bairn’s shipboard romance to blossom.

But this perfect moment cannot last. As Bairn grasps the reality of what it means to be Amish in the New World–isolated, rigid with expectations, under the thumb of his domineering father–his enthusiasm evaporates. When a sea captain offers the chance to cross the ocean one more time, Bairn grabs it. Just one more crossing, he promises Anna. But will she wait for him?

When Henrik Newman joins the church just as it makes its way to the frontier, Anna is torn. He seems to be everything Bairn is not–bold, devoted, and delighted to vie for her heart. And the most dramatic difference? He is here; Bairn is not.

Far from the frontier, an unexpected turn of events weaves together the lives of Bairn, Anna, and Henrik. When a secret is revealed, which true love will emerge?

About the Author

Suzanne Woods Fisher is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than a dozen novels, including Anna’s Crossing, The Bishop’s Family series, and The Inn at Eagle Hill series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace and The Heart of the Amish. She lives in California. Learn more at http://www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and follow Suzanne on Twitter @suzannewfisher.

Guest Post from Suzanne Woods Fisher

Pennsylvania of 1737, the setting for The Newcomer, is like a foreign country. Parts of it might seem familiar—the same hills and creeks and blue sky, but we’d hardly recognize the settlers. People like Anna, or Bairn, or the mysterious Newcomer. We wouldn’t be able to understand their language, their customs and traditions. Their world was that different from our modern one.

The first group of Amish immigrants (first written about in Anna’s Crossing and followed up in The Newcomer) settled northwest of Philadelphia, then a vast wilderness, and relied on each other for safety, security, building projects, and church. In nearby Germantown, settlers were tradesmen, so they clustered houses together in small knots. The Amish farmers took out land warrants for sizeable properties and lived considerable distances from each other.

In The Newcomer, Anna cooked food in a cauldron over a large hearth. One-pot meals can trace their beginnings to open-hearth cooking when ingredients for a meal went into a large kettle suspended over the fire. Traditional dishes—ham and beans, pork and sauerkraut—used sturdy, available, and simple ingredients that improved with long, slow cooking. The dishes could be easily expanded when the need arose to set a few more places at the table. And it did, often. Large families and unannounced company inspired Amish cooks to find ways to “stretch the stew.”

Noodles (including dumplings and rivvels) could be tossed into a simmering broth to make a meal stretch. Most farms had a flock of chickens, so eggs were easily at hand. Today, homemade noodles are still a favorite dish.

Another “stew stretcher” was cornmeal mush, originally eaten as a bread substitute. Early German settlers who made their home in eastern Pennsylvania roasted the yellow field corn in a bake oven before it was shelled and ground at the mill. The roasting process gave a nutty rich flavor to the cornmeal. Mush is still part of the diet the Old Order Amish—cooked and fried, baked, added into scrapple, smothered in ketchup. Dress it up and you’ve got polenta.

Now here’s one thing we do have in common with 1737 Pennsylvania immigrants…a love of good food and a shortage of time! Here’s one of my favorite one-pot recipes—probably not the kind of stew Anna might have made for ship carpenter Bairn or the mysterious Newcomer (ah, which man one stole her heart?)…but definitely delicious. Enjoy!

Lentil Chili

Here’s one of my favorite “stew stretchers.” You can expand it even more by serving over rice.

An old fence separates a modern community from their Amish neighbors, until a little boy opens the gate and breaks down barriers between them. A young man inherits property that borders an Amish farm and assumes his neighbors are simple people. He doesn’t like little Eli, or his family, until he actually gets to know them. Matt soon discovers a simple wisdom and maturity in Eli that astounds him. A few twists in the story take Matt to a place he never set out to go. Eli and his little sisters will touch your heart by Whispering to Horses.

In my own life I have known some plain folks to be very secluded within their communities and perhaps the englishers to be the ones more open. This is a nice story that shows that children can indeed bring a oneness within the community at large. A story that we can all learn from and gain wisdom. Sometimes it is a good thing for younger men to listen to one who has wisdom instead of assuming they know it all.

This story was one that held my attention and has just enough drama to keep you waiting to see what happens next ! If you really like Amish Fiction, this would be a great book for you and it is a book that can be read as a family or read by children.

A young Amish couple gets a second chance at love in New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray’s final book in her Return to Sugarcreek series.

Randall Beiler is doing his best to put his family and the farm’s needs first, even forsaking love. But though he tries, Randall knows he needs help caring for his younger siblings and keeping the house together.

When his brother offers pretty Elizabeth Nolt a job taking care of the house and cooking for the family, Randall is furious—and guilty about the way he once broke Elizabeth’s heart. But when he learns that Elizabeth and her grandmother are struggling to make ends meet, he knows the offer, no matter how painful, is the right thing for everyone.

Elizabeth wants to refuse—to stay far away from the man who hurt her—but she needs the money. Though she vows to protect her heart, spending time in the Beiler household makes Elizabeth realize that, while she’s older and wiser, her love for Randall still burns strong.

Randal, too, seems to want something more. But does he want Elizabeth because he truly loves her—or because he needs a housekeeper? If Randall sincerely wants something more, he must find a way to show Elizabeth—or risk losing his chance at love forever.

Shelley Shepard Gray is a two-time New York Times bestseller, a two-time USA Today bestseller, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time Holt Medallion winner. She lives in Southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail.

My Review

I so enjoyed all three of Shelley’s books in this series. Not many get a second chance at love, but you will enjoy this story as Shelley takes us back to Sugarcreek. Follow the many story lines. Will the love that Elizabeth had for Randall still be there this time around ? Will true love win out ? If you have followed along in this series you will want to get a copy of this 3rd and final book, you just won’t want to miss out on the wonderful ending ! Parts of the story are intense and it will really keep you on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen … It really is a heartwarming tale of Love !

Don’t miss Shelley Shepard Gray‘s newest book in the Return to Sugarcreek series, Joyful. USA Today raved: “A sweet, straightforward story about how love can be tested by family, faith, and personal insecurity. Enjoyable and heartwarming.”

Click the banner for a chance to win books 1-3 in Shelley’s Return to Sugarcreek series! Winner announced on Shelley’s blog on 9/30.

The latest book in the Legacy of Lancaster trilogy,Forever Amish introduces us to a young woman about to uncover a shocking secret and find an invitation to a new way of living. This is a story of forgiveness, legacies, and the ties that bind through generations.

It’s the Last Thing She Expects to Find

Sally Bingham needs some time away to sort through the changes in her life and to rethink her upcoming marriage. Despite her ailing father’s hesitations, she takes off for a bed and breakfast in Lancaster County for a weekend away. But her best-laid plans leave her in a near collision with a bishop’s buggy and in the home of a mysterious Amish woman named Lizzie. Lizzie introduces her to a different perspective on life, a charming farmhand named Armin— and opens a Pandora’s box that will forever change Sally’s life.

My Review

This is a very touching story ! A story about love and forgiveness. Learning to forgive even when we don’t know why folks do things the way they do. A story about finding the love of God , who never leaves us, even if others abandon us. Kate has written a wonderful tale and shared with us the truth of God’s love and mercy. Shown us how to trust God for the answers to life’s problems and trials. I read this book and had not read the first two, but I loved the story and will not go back and read the first two. This was my first Kate Lloyd Story, but not may last !

Linda

Author Kate Lloyd is a passionate observer of human relationships. A native of Baltimore, Kate spends time with family and friends in Lancaster County, PA, the inspiration for her novels. She is a member of the Lancaster County Mennonite Historical Society. Kate and her husband live in the Pacific Northwest. Kate studied painting and sculpture in college. She’s worked a variety of jobs, including car salesman and restaurateur.

The latest book in Kate Lloyd‘s Legacy of Lancaster trilogy, Forever Amish, introduces us to a young woman about to uncover a shocking secret and find an invitation to a new way of living. This is a story of forgiveness, legacies, and the ties that bind through generations. Kate is celebrating by giving away an Amish-made prize pack!

One winner will receive:

A brand new Kindle Fire

A Qillow (A pillow with a lovely surprise inside! It opens to a 40” X 60” quilt ideal for traveling, sports events, and home.)

A Center Diamond wall hanging (Hand-stitched by Old Order Amish quilter Emma Stoltzfus of E.S. Quilts in Lancaster, PA. It measures 42” x 42” and is a traditional Old Order Amish design.)

Amish widower Jacob Miller believes it was a mistake to visit the Amish village of Pinecraft for winter vacation, especially after his daughter is struck by a car. Stranded in Sarasota until his daughter recovers, Jacob grows increasingly wary of events that unfold in his unfamiliar surroundings—including the strange curiosity of Englischer Natalie Bennett.

Natalie never thought her circus career as an aerial silks artist would end with a blown-out knee at the age of 25. She also never knew her late mother had a secret—that she was once Amish.

When Natalie meets the Millers at the Sarasota hospital, she is attracted to their warm hospitality and simple ways—and soon wonders if they can help her find her mother’s family. As Jacob and Natalie fall in love, their worlds collide. Will their differences tear them apart? Or will their love be strong enough to blend their clashing cultures?

My Review

A Change of Seasons is such a tale of love. What touched me is how God can turn something of sadness into something that leads us to Him and his love. I loved this story for its very different story line and also for its showing that indeed two different lives can be brought together if both follow the leading of the Lord. I love that the characters in this story share God’s love and his desires for us to follow. Its touching to that someone would be willing to give up their own desires to allow another person to be happy, if that is God’s will for their lives. If your looking for something just a tad different in Amish Romance, this book is for you ! I was touched by Natalie’s willingness to follow after the Lord and begin a new chapter in her life and the lives of others. Lynette, this is an awesome story and I can hardly wait for the next book to come out this fall…

Lynette Sowell is the Carol Award-winning and ECPA best-selling author of more than 15 titles, including A Season of Change and Tempest’s Course. When Lynette is not writing, she works as a medical editor and part-time newspaper reporter. She makes her home in Copperas Cove on the doorstep of the Texas hill country.

In A Season of Change, book one of Lynette Sowell‘s new series, Seasons of Pinecraft, readers will discover a different side of the Amish community.A Season of Change follows Natalie and Amish widower Jacob Miller as they each discover the mysterious ways God works. Inspired by the image of a Plain woman sitting on a three-wheeled bicycle by the Pinecraft (an Amish community in Florida) post office, Sowell’s latest is a new take on the popular trend in fiction.

Lynette is celebrating with a Kindle Fire Hdx giveaway and a Facebook author chat party on June 12th.

One winner will receive:

A Kindle Fire Hdx

A Season of Change by Lynette Sowell

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 12th. Winner will be announced at the A Season of Change Facebook author chat party on June 12th. Connect with Lynette for an evening of fun book chat, Amish-themed trivia, and prizes. Lynette will also be answering audience questions and giving an exclusive look at the next book in the Seasons of Pinecraft series!

So grab your copy of A Season of Change and join Lynette on the evening of June 12th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven’t read the book, don’t let that stop you from coming!)

Don’t miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via Facebook or Twitter and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 12th!

Will Stoltz has returned to Stoney Ridge with a clear plan. He’s opening a wild bird rescue center and is determined to rekindle his fizzled romance with Jackie Colombo, the veterinarian who stole his heart. But nothing is working out as Will planned. The leased building for the rescue center is a disaster, his funding is rapidly dwindling, and Jackie Colombo has disappeared without a trace.

When an injured eagle is found in a pasture near the Inn at Eagle Hill, Will is desperate to prove to himself, to his skeptical father, and to everyone else that his mission has not been in vain. But even the best laid plans are no match for fate.

My Review

I loved this novella. A sweet touching story of nature (birds) and their care. A son and a young amish boy learn some lessons in life. It is also a tender touching story about putting God first and not letting anything else come first. You will really love this story , I hope you will give it a read. It was my own personal bedtime story last night !Linda

Suzanne Woods Fisher is a bestselling author of Amish fiction and non-fiction, and a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazine. The Waiting was a finalist for a 2011 Christy Award. The Choice and The Search have been finalists for Carol Awards. Amish Peace: Simple Wisdom for a Complicated World and Amish Proverbs: Words of Wisdom from the Simple Life were both finalists for the ECPA Book of the Year (2010, 2011).

Her interest in the Amish began with her grandfather, who was raised Plain in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. She travels back east a couple of times each year for research. For fun, too.

Suzanne has a great admiration for the Plain people and believes they provide wonderful examples to the world. She has an underlying belief in her books–you don’t have to “go Amish” to incorporate many of their principles into your life: simplicity, living with less, appreciating nature, forgiving others more readily, trusting in God.

A Little About Me…

Bible Believer, Christ Follower, Mamma to Seven wonderfully talented children... Grandmamma to 11 awesome grandchildren... Each child is a true blessing in my life. I cannot wait to have more! I am an Author, Artist, Poet, Lover of Country Living, Country Victorian Things and when not found reading historical fiction, I am reading about herbs.

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